By Amie T. Camara

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures”. And she further discloses that it would take time to reach an agreement on the matter of the waiver on vaccine patents.

India and South Africa are the first to proposed the plan, which they said would increase vaccine production around the world.

But drugs manufacturers argue it may not be effective as they think.

According to BBC, one hundred members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are said to be in favour, and a panel on intellectual property is expected to discuss the issue next month.

The head of the World Health Organization even called the move a “monumental moment” in the fight against Covid-19.

The India Press also made known of President Biden’s administration in support of the waiving patents on Covid-19 vaccines. The statement has important implications because doing away with intellectual property rights will pave the way for cheaper versions of the vaccine to enter the market and also scale up production.

Source: BBC News

Afrinity Production draw attention to Ebrima Sabally, a skilled driven and an enterprising young star that was born and raised in Kiang Kwinella where he did first quarter of his education before proceeding to Senior Secondary, College and University.

Sabally reads Development Studies from the University of The Gambia; and a primary Teacher Certificate at The Gambia College. He currently serves as Business Development Service Supervisor for West Coast Region on West Africa Competitiveness Programmed, a project funded by EU to boost value chain in onion, pepper and tomato production in West Africa.

He further serves as the Head of State of Youth in Africa, The Gambia Chapter. Additionally, from 2018 to date, he serves as Policy Adviser to United Nations Girls’ Initiative (UNGEI) which is a body that works and collaborates with over 300 organizations across the world; to lead and organize campaign on Gender based violence and its related issues in schools, communities and countries across the world.

Sabally was an intern at the American Corner The Gambia, Program Officer atSalimatou Foundation for Education (SaFE) from 2020 to present, Enumerator/Assistant Supervisor
Gambia Social Registry Survey and he also served as a Classroom Teacherfrom 2016 to 2019 at Old Jeshwang.

Mr. Sabally, over the years, designed and implemented ample of programs under dynamic institutions and internationally recognized bodies such US Embassy, the Gambia. In 2019, Sabally and Salimatou Fatty coordinated a Youth Empowerment and Career Development project in North Bank Region, The Gambia. A project funded by US Embassy through its Alumni Association. Further, Sabally trained youth in their number in different platforms on communicative competence and an application of critical reasoning in an argument. Similarly, he trained and mentored young people on diverse thematic areas related to personal leadership, growth and self-transcendence.

In 2017, Sabally won National Competition on Policy and Proposal debate on Climate Change; and was decorated with National Certificate of merits for his contribution to the National Development by the government of The Gambia, National Youth Council and the Balance Crew. In the same year, he served Social Sciences and Humanities Students’ Association (SoSHSA), and School of Arts and Sciences Nationwide Teaching and Sensitization Tour as Secretary General. On a separate paradigm, Sabally, participated and served as team leader in numerous socioeconomic and academic surveys, including Nfamara K. Dampha’s PhD Research on Coastal Ecosystem Service Valuation and Climate Change Adaptation; and a Survey on Willingness to Pay for Maintenance Fees for a newly built community-funded water (borehole) infrastructure project in Geniere Village. In addition, Mr. Sabally published numerous articles and over a hundred quotations on leadership, self-esteem, unity, law, development and among others.

Sabally is among the first, if not the first Gambian youth to start designing his inspiring write-ups in a form quotation. This, today, has gained immense takeoff, as we have seem good number of young writers spreading their thoughts through quotations.

As an innovative, resourceful and forward-driving youth that embraced true love for The Gambia and trust that he can always make it here in The Gambia; Sabally recently opened a business named “Gam-Taste”. Which is a Restaurant and Catering Service that produces and sells Gambian food and beverages. The business within three weeks has registered tremendous takeoff, directly employing six Gambians. With the business, he intends to grow into a complex company that will manufacture raw materials (food) into finish products for The Gambian population and beyond.

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production Top 5 Movies Of The Week

(1) The Contractor done by Rising Star Film Production

(2) The Same Crime done by Ocean Magic Pictures

(3) Nyalee done by Guruz Empire

(4) Forest Of Gbankasoka done by Valentine’s Production

(5) Dark Secret done by Star Movie Limited

Afrinity Production Top 5 Movies of the week promotes Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 movies through our online Radio and TV, website, Facebook Page among others. Afrinity Production fans across the world will review trending movies to determine the winners of the Afrinity Production Top 5 Movies of the week. Keep us up to date with your latest release movie for a chance to win
Top 5 for the week 8th May 2021 to 14 May 2021.

Afrinity Production Top 5 Music Of The Week

(1) King Of Kakua by KRhyme
(2) Na Betteh Tin done by Muzik Makers
(3) You Go Feel Me done by Wyem
(4) Me & You done by Sweet Da Saviour
(5) Invasion done by Pee Star

The idea behind the Afrinity Production Top 5 Music of the week is to promote Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 music to the world through our online Radio and TV, website, Facebook Page among others. Afrinity Production fans across the world will assess and review trending music to determine the winners of the Afrinity Production Top 5 Music of the week. Keep us up to date with your latest hit songs so they have a chance to win👉🏾 Afrinity Production Facebook Page

Top 5 for the week 8th May 2021 to 14 May 2021.

*SIERRA LEONE IS SET TO HAVE ITS FIRST AUTO MANUFACTURING AND ASSEMBLING PLANT*

In an effort to create a sustainable industrialized development, boost the country’s economy and to create professional jobs, the *Government of Sierra Leone* through it *Consuls General to Miami, Florida, USA. Hon. George Hamilton* are in engagement with *Institute of Progressive Sustainable Development* which is a US based *Automobile Manufacturing company* to setup an auto manufacturing and assembling plant production in the country. The plant will be established with the aim of helping Sierra Leone to produce it own cars and vehicle spare parts supply chain in order to maximize the high challenge of influx of cars and automobile products in the country and help in achieving His *Excellency The President (Rtd). Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s* human capital and sustainable development goal.

The Proposed Sierra Leone Manufacturing and Assembling Plant will enable Sierra Leone to compete favorably with leading car assembling plants in the United States and other countries in the world as there is going to be a mechanized system that will be put in place and also a competent team of automobile engineers and technicians that will ensure that every car that is rolled out from the plant meets and even surpasses customers’ expectations.

The mission as a car manufacturing plant company is to develop a highly successful car manufacturing plant industry that is known to manufacture durable and affordable automobiles for both the rich and the general populace.

The company’s created after its successful implementation will build a positive international image of the country, reduce the high expensive increase on export cars. It wil
also create over 30,000 sustainable jobs,
create up to 8,000 millionaires and new business owners and the highlight is that it will especially help improve the country’s domestic revenue by *paying Tax* to the *Government.* It is known that the car and automobile manufacturing industry is a major sector boosting the economy of some countries in the world.

The *Founder/CEO* of the Institute of Progressive Sustainable Development and the proposed Sierra Leone Manufacturing and Assembling Plant, *Dr. Meriland Dillard* and *Team* were in the country as visibility studies is on going. The visit was accompanied by the proactive *Sierra Leone Consuls General to Miami, Florida, USA. Hon. George Hamilton.* the team visited key Government sectors such as *His Excellency The Vice President, Dr. Mohammed Juldeh Jalloh, the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry Of Trade & Industry, the Ministry Of Youths Affairs, the Ministry of Transport & Avaition, and the Head and team of SLIEPA* and they all welcomed the idea and gave fruitful contributions after details of the company’s plans was presented.

Taf africa global is launching competition for the design of our new affordable houses. Candidates must be Gambian between the ages of 18 and 30 years. Please send your email and name by 31st May 2020 to: info@tafafricaglobal.com

Afrinity Productiion draw cognizance to Sainey MK Marenah, a 34 year old Gambian Journalist and Communications Consultant with close to 15 years experience in journalism, communications and activism. Hails from Kudang in the southern Central River Region of The Gambia, famously popular for producing one of our country’s finest men and women in the public and private sector.

When he began working as a journalist in 2007, with the point newspaper, the media was operating in difficult circumstances. Free speech was curtailed. The government treated the media as an enemy, not a partner in open governance. Restrictive laws were enacted.
Journalists who dared voice any opposition or criticism of the government paid a high price. Several went into exile; including himself while some were killed and others simply disappeared, even as many more faced prosecution on spurious charges.

Sainey was a correspondent for The Point, an independent daily based in the capital Banjul, where he reported on political, legal and diplomatic affairs. He became accustomed to frequent harassment by state agents. In August 2010, he was summoned to appear before a high court judge in Banjul. The judge questioned him about his story on the trial of former police chief Ensa Badjie who was accused of corruption and robbery by the ex-president Jammeh. The story quoted the defence counsel complaining during the hearing that his client had been tortured. The judge insisted that their headline was wrong.
When it was pointed out to him that two other newspapers had carried the same quotes, he had no choice but to let him go.

For slightly over a year, until Sainey’s arrest in January 2014, at that time he was a senior correspondent for The Standard, a privately owned newspaper which had a bumpy ride and suffered frequent closure for its journalism.

As chief correspondent, Sainey headed the political desk of The Standard, leading investigations into major national stories. He started off as a judicial reporter, mainly covering the courts, which were kept busy by the frequent prosecution of critics of the regime. Officers of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), they even visited their offices in 2012 and announced that the president had ordered the newspaper’s immediate closure. No explanation was given. The order came when there was a national debate about the execution of nine prisoners.

The Standard had provided extensive coverage of the executions and criticised the action. NIA agents denied Mr. marenah’s access to the Supreme Court during during the hearing of the final appeal against the death sentence imposed on a former chief of defence staff and six others convicted of plotting to topple Jammeh.

“I had covered the trial since its start in 2009 until my newspaper’s closure. The intelligence operatives claimed they were acting on orders from the presidency. The arbitrary closure and interference left many journalists jobless. I resorted to freelance writing for several newspapers, including The Voice, a private tri-weekly newspaper. It was not long before I was in trouble again, this time over a story about the defection of 19 Green Youth members from the ruling APRC party. I had attended a rally at Tanji, a coastal town in The Gambia’s south, about 25 km from the capital, where several youths publicly announced their defection to the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). The Green Youth were die-hard supporters of the ruling party and were viewed as militant — who supported President Jammeh at all costs. This is why the opposition’s youth secretary, Solo Sandeng, furtively gave me the defectors’ names. My attempts to interview some of them failed because they feared reprisals from the ruling party”, he explained.

On 14 November 2014, Marenah fled to Senegal. The first few months in Dakar were difficult. He did not know anybody and was unable to work. With the help of media support and exposure, he started a new life doubling as a freelance journalist for international media, including the BBC and Al Jazeera.

In 2017, after the defeat of long time ruler, Yayha Jammeh by current President Adama Barrow, he happily returned to Gambia where he continued practicing journalism. He worked with GRTS as a social media strategist and editor before picking up his next job as head of media and communications with the Constitutional Review Commission in 2018.
The commission was tasked with drafting a new Constitution where he was responsible for communications and media outreach campaigns in his role as the Spokesperson of the CRC.

In 2008, Journalist Sainey was awarded an International Monetary Fund Journalism fellowship and became the first Gambian to be selected for the prestigious fellowship allowing him to travel to Washington DC where he joined 18 other journalists across the world.

He also worked with Gamworks under its New project, Gambia Pilot Program as Communications Consultant. He Co-Founded the Media Centre for Research and Development in 2017 with his dear friend and long time colleague, Ebrima Jatta offering media and communications consultancy to local and international organizations.

In 2020, he also co-authored a book: ‘ Hounded: African Journalists in Exile with 15 other African Journalists. The book was published and he thank the KAS Media Programme for Sub saharan Africa and a german think tank based in South Africa for their support.

His passion for journalism dates back to his early days as a student leader in Armitage High School where he was a member of their Current Affairs Club, writing and editing for the school magazine. And also of his passion to bring stories of the most disadvantaged people in society like rural children to the forefront.

Above all, Mr. Marenah said his journey is not much different from many other children growing in rural Gambia. He grewup with access to very limited resources and he had to struggle hard to be in school and pass his exams. His success today is an epitome of the commitment, dedication and hard work he put up throughout his career.

When asked what he can’t do without, he said Justice, anytime he sees injustice, he must speak against it even if it goes against the majority.

His source of inspiration comes from his late parents. They taught him to be very humble and hardworking.

Mr. Marenah was also inspired by the bravery of assassinated Gambian Journalist, Deyda Hydara a journalist whose desire is to hold the powerful accountable as well as bring the stories of the most disadvantaged to the limelight.

Sainey is currently in the United States working as a media consultant and about to start his degree program in media and communication studies at University of Washington in Seattle, Washington State.

In 5 years to come, he sees himself as an improved person, in his professional and also as a social advocate with a keen passion to become a media owner in the very short term during and after his degree programme.

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production Star Of The Week

Kelfala Paul Konuwa is a movie Actor who has stared in many hit movies including Daru Bridge and the upcoming movie titled Human Trafficking” he also won the best supporting Actor of the year in the Newskool Awards (NSA) 2020 for his excellence performance in the movie titled Daru Bridge.
Kelfala Paul Konuwa known as Actor Jayzee is our Star 🌟 Of the week.
#Congratulations
#Actor_Jayzee
#Afrinity

#Afrinith_Star_Of_The_Week

#Kelfala_Paul_Konuwa is an actor who won the Best supporting Actor Award in last year’s Newskool Awards (NSA) is our Star 🌟 of this week 2 May 2021 to 8 May 2021

_*Breaking news*_

The long awaiting most anticipating movie title _*HUMAN TRAFFICKING*_ trailer will drop here tonight at *9:00pm* on Afrinity TV and all social media plat forms. *Subscribe to Afrinity TV Now to be the first to watch the trailer tonight*👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾
https://youtube.com/channel/UCLESy7mUCLvej5AYwjpSMkg

Please don’t forget the dates for the Premiering.

*Kenema 👉🏻 15th May 2021 at Club Karina*

*Bo👉🏻 22nd May 2021 at Valentino Complex*

*Ticket price 👉🏻20,000*

From the Office of the National Admin
~*……kpkon………*~
Kelfala Paul Konuwa.

Samex Film Company Limited